Acetylene-gas generator.



J. D. ROSS.

AGETYLBNE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1913.

Patented June 16, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

JOHN D. ROSS, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR T0 FREDERICK L. JERRIS, 0F IPORTLAND, MAINE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN D. Ross, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, county of Cumberland, State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to acetylene gas generators and particularly to-that type of generator in which water is fed automatically from a water chamber to a. carbid chamber.

My invention is intended to prevent continued generation of gas when such genera tion is no longer wanted. It is this continued generation, usually termed aftergeneration, which wastes the carbid and makes it necessary to remove the ashes and provide new carbid with annoying frequency. Far more important, however, than the economic waste and inconvenience is the fact that this after-generation causes an increasing gas pressure when the generator is no longer in use. p

It is the object of my invention, therefore, to avoid the waste of the carbid, the danger of a building up of the pressure when not in use, and the trouble and'annoyance of recharging with such unnecessary frequency. This I accomplish in brief by an arrangement which absolutely prevents the after-generation, while maintaining the apparatus in a condition for instant use when desired. The elements involved in this, as well as the various other features of my invention, will be more particularly described in the specification which follows.

In the drawing which accompanies the specification, I have shown a preferred embodiment which I have found successful in practical use.

Throughout specification and drawing like reference numerals are employed to in dicate corresponding parts, and in this drawing I have shown a generator embodying my invention in central vertical section.

1 preferably provide an outer cylindrical shell 1 and an inner shell 2 with an interposed filling of insulatingmaterial 3. Surrounding the lower part of the inner gas chamber thus formed is an annular water chamber 4:.

The upper end of the gas chamber 1 which also forms the main gas reservoir is closed by a cover 5. A ring 6 on this cover has on Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 19, 1913.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Serial No. 755,314.

its lower face a rib 6 which rests on a gasket 7 laid in an annular groove formed in the flange 7 which surrounds the top of the chamber 1. This cover is clamped by wing nuts 8 which can be set up on pivoted bolts 9 between the ears 10.

A filter chamber is defined in the upper portion of the cover 5 by a fine screen 11, the chamber being compactly filled with any suitable gas filtering material as indicated at 12.

A pair of delivery pipes 13 and 14:, controlled by valves 15 and 16, supply the gas to the pipe system for the burners. Screen filtering cages 15 and 16 are provided to protect said valves against impurities lodging therein and clogging the gas passages.

Above the center of the top 38 of the filter chamber, and extendingtherefrom through the screen 11 is a priming tube 17 having a restricted lower end 18 terminating in a seat 18. Against this seat 18 is held a valve 19 set on a spindle 20 which is supported by a spring 21. The cap 22 has a JitCk 22 which when screwed down bears on the'upper end of the spindle 20 and opens the valve 19 to empty the water with which the priming tube 17 is filled for the starting of the generator.

Leading from the upper or gas containing part of the chamber 1 is a pipe 23 which enters a casing 24 set in the top of the water chamber 4: above its water level. The pipe 23 affords a direct and freely communicating passage from the gas chamber of the casing 1 to the passage 25 in the easing 2a. A tube 26 extends this passage 25 to a point adjacent to the bottom of the chamber 4: while a by-pass 27 leads from the passage 25 to the top of the chamber 4 well above the level of the water therein indicated at W. The by-pass 27 is controlled by a needle valve 28.

Removably mounted in the chamber 1 and communicating with the passage of the pipe 23 is a tube 29, terminating centrally of the chamber 1, in a rosette 30 having fine delivery openings 31 for showering with a needle spray the carbid G contained in the wire cage 32. This cage 32 is resiliently supported on a spring 33 in a removable canister 34.

A filling plug 36 with safety valve 37 incorporated therein, is screwed into the top of the water chamber. Another safety valve 40 is screwed into the top of the filter chamber. A pressure gage 41 indicated in dotted lines is mounted in communication with the top of the water tank 4.

In operation I first remove cover 5, unscrew rosette tube 29, take out canister 34 from which the ashes of the last charge may be dumped by lifting out cage 32 and spring 33. Cage 32 is now filled with fresh carbid and set on the spring in the canister, in which position it will be agitated by every movement of the car, if the generator is used for automobile service, that being one of the most important uses for which the generator here shown is designed. Rosette tube 29 is replaced and top 5 screwed on. Chamber 4 is filled with water to about the level indicated and valve 28 opened. Then it is desired to start the generator fill priming cup 17 with water, screw home cap 22, and the priming water is thereby released and discharged on the carbid. This starts generation. The gas fills chamber 1 and, by means of pipes 29 and 23 and bypass 27, passes directly to the top of chamber 4, until the pressure in the two chambers is the same. As soon as either of the service pipes 15 or 16 is opened for delivery to the burners close valve 28. As the gas is burned the pressure in chamber 1 will begin to drop, whereuponthe greater pressure in chamber a above the water, immediately forces through pipes 26, 23 and 29 a column of waterwhich casts.- over. the carbid a fine and distributed spray from the rosette 30. This in turn. starts anew generation of gas but as, soon, as the. pressure in chamber lreaches that in chamber 4 10. more water can be forced to the carbid.

The fine and distributed spray from the rosette; produces so gradual a generation, of gas and is so quickly started and stopped that under normal conditionsthe generation may be said to be continuous and the pressure practically-constant during use. This, taken with the filtering features above. described, makes it possible. to secure a. clear and steady flame 'of a great purity and strength. s

I am aware that an acetylene gas generator, comprising a gas chamber and a,

Water chamber, with free communication between them, is not; anew thing, but I claim that my inventionembodiesa structural dif ference. of the utmost importance and one that-is not found, in. any existing generator.

Even with, an extremely fine spray and even feed, the operation above describedwill not in the casev of other generators completely avoidaftergeneration. With my in.- vention, however, this after generation, can be prevented. To check the flow of the waterat once, and to avoid. this building up of pressure, l simply open the needle valve 28 thus-throwing the chamber 1 abovethe c-arbid and the chamber 1 above the water into free and direct communication. This immediately stops the feed of water which might otherwise continue for some minutes if the service pipes had been drawing heavily on the gas chamber 1. Such slight after generation as may now take place is immediately distributed and there is no longer any flow of water in the pipe 26. The generator is now simply a storage tank with its pressure equally distributed between the gas and water chambers. It can, however, be immediately put again into operation by merely closing the needle valve 28 and opening service valve 15 or 16.

The equalizing connection may obviously be made in, various ways and the structure and arrangement of the parts variously modified, all within the spirit of my invention if within the limits of the appended claims.

\Vhat I, therefore, claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an acetylene gas generator comprising casing having a water chamber and a carbid chamber having a gas space and a free passage between said gas space and the bottom part of said water chamber, said passage being free to the passage of gas only from the gas chamber to the water chamber and free to the passage of water only from the water chamber to the gas I chamber only in the direction indicated, and

said chambers having a second passage communicating between said gas space and the upper part of said water chamber and means for closing said last named passage, the feed of water from the water chamber being in a, stream delivered directly onto the carbid f 0111 a point above.

2. In an acetylene gas generator, comprising a casing; having a water chamber and an upwardly extended carbid chamber, a free passage between the upper part of said carbid. chamber and the bottom. part of said water chamber for an interchange of gas and water, and having a second passage communicating between said cal-bid chamber and the upper part of said water chamber, andmeang. for closing said last named passage, the fecd of water fromv the water chamber being in a, stream delivered directly on to the carbid from a point above.

3. In. an acetylene gas generator comprising a, casing having a water chamber and a carbid chamber, afree passage between said carbid. chamber and the bottom part of said water chamber, and having a passage communicating: between said first named passage and, the water chamber above the-water line thereof, and means for closing said last named passage, the feed of water from the water chamber being in astream delivered directly, onto thecarbid, from a; point above.

h A pressureoperated generator comprising a closed water container and a carbid container having a gas space, means for placing the gas space in free communication with the water chamber below the water level, and means for placing said gas space in controllable communication with said water container above the water level thereof, the feed of water from the water chamber being in a stream delivered directly on to the carbid from a point above.

5. An acetylene gas generator comprising a casing having a carbid chamber and a water chamber, a freely communicating passage extending from the lower part of said water chamber to the upper part of said carbid chamber, and a by-pass in said passage having a controllable communication with said water chamber above its water level.

6. An acetylene gas generator comprising a casing having a carbid chamber extended to a higher level and a water chamber lying at a lower level, a freely communicating passage extending upwardly from the lower part of said water chamber to the upper part of said carbid chamber, and a by-pass in said passage having a controllable communication with said Water chamber above its water level.

7 An acetylene gas generator comprising a casing having a carbid chamber and a water chamber, a valve casing having a direct passage therethrough and a second passage, a valve in said second passage, a free communication extending from said carbid chamber to said direct passage, a pipe from said direct passage and having its end below the water level of said Water chamber, said second passage communicating with said water chamber above its water level.

8. An acetylene gas generator having a carbid chamber provided with a gas space and a water chamber, a gas delivery leading from said gas space, a freely communicating connection between said gas space at a point above the top of the water chamber at one end and below the water level of said Water chamber at the other end, and a connection having a positively controllable communication between the gas space above the top of the water chamber at one end and the water chamber above the water level at the other end, the feed of water from the water chamber being in a stream delivered directly on to the carbid from a point above.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN D. ROSS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED E. NIoKERsoN, EDWIN H. NICKERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

